STEWART COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) — An investigation is underway following the death of an inmate who was held in the Stewart Detention Center in Stewart County.

Stewart County Coroner Sybil S. Ammons said the death remains under investigation, but that it appears the inmate died of natural causes. An official cause and manner of death have not yet been released.

Ammonds told WALB that Priciliano Trejo, 29, died at the detention facility. CoreCivic, the company that operates the facility, disputed that detail.

Ryan Gustin, the Senior Director of Public Affairs for CoreCivc, said that while Ammons “has been in [the facility’s] care,” he did not die at the Stewart Detention Center.

Gustin gave a statement on behalf of CoreCivic. Read it in part below:

“We are deeply saddened by and take very seriously the passing of any individual who has been in our care. The safety, health and well-being of the individuals entrusted to our care and our dedicated staff at all our facilities, including Stewart Detention Center (SDC) is our top priority.

While we are unable to comment on a specific individual’s medical record due to our own policies, those of our government partners, and restrictions tied to medical privacy laws, such as HIPAA, I can share that [Trejo], as is every detainee who enters SDC, was appropriately screened upon intake by our facility medical staff and no medical issues were provided or identified. Facility medical staff immediately addressed the medical concerns once they were presented. It’s important to note that any medical diagnosis was made outside of our care by hospital providers."

WALB has reached out to Stewart Detention Center officials for additional information and to clear this discrepancy. We are also working to learn more about the circumstances surrounding Trejo’s death.

This is a developing story. Check back with WALB for updates as more information becomes available.

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